This year has done a number on my cortisol levels and if I didn't have music, it would've been difficult to make it through. Here are musicians/albums that I enjoyed listening to numerous times and, save for Solange, saw live this year.

1. James Blake // The Color in Anything (Polydor)

2. Solange // A Seat at the Table (Saint Records/Columbia)

3. Sin Fang // Spaceland (Morr Music)

4. Anonhi // Hopelessness (Secretly Canadian)

5. Throws // Throws (Thrill Jockey)